Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

hi all just wondering is it cooking chocolate to make ganache or normal please ? x thanks x

Hi AngieS

You can make chocolate ganache with any chocolate you like to eat. Cooking chocolate doesn’t really have a great taste but you can use it if you like.
Nice tasting chocolate ganache is made from chocolate you enjoy eating or from courverture. Ganache sets differently depending on the amount of cocoa it contains. If chocolate has 60% and over cocoa content it will set very hard and taste very strong. Not everyone likes a strong taste so, if you’re using dark chocolate aim for approx 50 – 60%. for milk chocolate approx 42% cocoas solids and white chocolate approx 23 -29%.

Hope this helps.

thank you madeitwithlove

ive gone and brought callebaut as thats all i could get hold of…. hope this ones ok ive brought white for middle of cake and dark for the outside,

i want to thank you also for your reply to the madira cake i think it was you that answered as i cant seem to find the question that i asked to get the reply i lost internet for a few days after i asked the question doh…. and only read your reply really quickly. x

Hi AngieS

Yes Callebaut is a really good professional couverture, that’s the one I use. Callebaut also make coloured flavoured callets.

If you ever need to find your previous questions just click on your username which will take you to your site activity. Here is your madeira cake question:

Madiera recipe

If you need help with ganache quantities for different size cakes, take a look at my blog and chart here:

How to Ganache Cakes Without Gnashing Your Teeth!

and if you’d like to learn a little about the shelf life of ganache, I have another blog here:

The Shelf Life of Ganache – By madeitwithlove

Hope the above helps. If you need more information just post again. x